The family of Amy Porter, a 43-year-old Indigenous woman from Riverside County, California, made a tragic discovery while conducting their own search for her after feeling unsupported by law enforcement. Porter, a member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, had been missing since September 14 after reportedly fleeing an abusive relationship.
Frustrated with the lack of urgency from authorities, her family took matters into their own hands. On September 22, they found her body in the California desert near Interstate 10. Deputies from the Yucaipa Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. An autopsy will be performed to determine her cause of death.
Porter’s cousin, Angelina Lyons, expressed her dissatisfaction with the initial police response, citing evidence such as blood on Porter’s mattress and clothing that was seemingly overlooked. Now, law enforcement has begun investigating the case more thoroughly, but her family feels it is too late.
Porter’s cousin, Shannon Quesada, believes Porter was trying to escape danger when she fled a hotel and had a car accident. Her boyfriend, currently in custody for an unrelated parole violation, has not been linked to her death. Authorities are asking for anyone with information to come forward.